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as in bare
lacking a usual or natural covering trees that are bald in the winter aren't the best for giving a home year-round privacy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bald differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bald are bare, barren, naked, and nude. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When can bare be used instead of bald?

Although the words bare and bald have much in common, bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

Where would barren be a reasonable alternative to bald?

In some situations, the words barren and bald are roughly equivalent. However, barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

When might naked be a better fit than bald?

The words naked and bald are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

When could nude be used to replace bald?

The synonyms nude and bald are sometimes interchangeable, but nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bald The man’s chest, neck, face, and head were a carbon copy of a Lenin bust, his bald head shining like white marble. Literary Hub, 30 June 2025 Cops released images of the suspect, who is bald and wears glasses, in the hopes that the public could help identify him. Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025 His bald head, white button-down and black dress pants closely resemble the 61-year-old Amazon founder. Colson Thayer, People.com, 27 June 2025 The officer drove by the vehicle and saw what appeared to be a bald white man sitting in the driver’s seat staring straight ahead. Mara Gottfried, Mercury News, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bald
Adjective
  • One sleeve covers your arm, while the other arm is bare, giving you the chance to show off your shoulders and stay cool, just a tiny bit out of your comfort zone.
    Katrina Cossey, Parents, 8 July 2025
  • This comes after Williams put handcuffs around her son's wrists and ankles while punishing him for refusing to pick up dog waste in the yard with his bare hands, according to a copy of the mother's indictment.
    Chris Spargo, People.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Nearby is the kitchen, which is compact and simple as standard.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 July 2025
  • While in many ways, this flat 33km time-trial is simple, particularly in its middle section, there is still plenty to watch out for.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • And then there are the descriptions of the additional terms, which may not be obvious.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • But a sharp turn straight into country seems like far too obvious a path for a singer-songwriter who has quietly done her own thing.
    Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Even with the help of the train, rescuers hiked a mile along an exposed ridgeline above 5,000 feet, encountering high winds and freezing temperatures, to reach Wilson.
    Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 24 June 2025
  • Iran would likely retaliate against U.S. troops stationed at exposed and vulnerable bases in Iraq and Syria.
    Reid Smith, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Throughout summer 2025, Gomez has been at the forefront of this year's most minimalist nail trends—from simple purple pastels to nearly naked glass manicures—but that hasn't always been her preference.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 5 July 2025
  • The first person to arrive at the home was a Warren County sheriff’s deputy, who saw Sarah lying naked on the floor of the couple’s bedroom.
    Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • So now, many Mexicans and Mexican Americans are choosing to be seen in the loudest, most unmistakable way: by wearing their culture on their sleeves—literally.
    Daisy Maldonado, Vogue, 8 July 2025
  • The display of might outside was unmistakable, as was the soft power inside the building.
    Andrew J. Campa Follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • There are over 20 flavors (watermelon’s a winner) to beat plain water for energy.
    Parker Hall, Wired News, 11 July 2025
  • Avocado and Lime For a creamier dressing, an avocado-lime blend can turn a plain salad into a savory and filling meal.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • The apparent docking of the two satellites last week suggests SJ-21 is the target for SJ-25's refueling demonstration, and US officials are watching.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2025
  • The disconnect is apparent: students want to build careers around emerging technology, but traditional education isn’t teaching them how.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bald. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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